Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, stressed or fearful, usually about things that are about to happen, or which we hypothesise could happen in the future.
Anxiety is a natural human response when we feel that we are in danger, and need to escape the situation. Anxiety can be experienced through spiralling/catastrophizing thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in the body, signalling the need to ‘escape’ whatever situation has triggered the response.
Low levels of anxiety associated with specific life situations are normal (for example if you have an important conversation with someone, or a meeting at work) and help us to be more responsive to situations; however, ongoing, underlying anxiety can have serious effects on your health long term if left unacknowledged.
The following symptoms also relate to experiencing anxiety:
· Having difficulty concentrating.
· feeling restless, overwhelmed and on-edge.
· Constant worrying.
· Headaches, stomach aches, unexplained pains and IBS symptoms.
· Obsessive thinking and catastrophizing.
· Sleep problems.
So how can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can help you to gain awareness and identify times where the fight/flight response is being triggered. We work together to acknowledge the emotions surfacing for you, and supporting you with better ways of processing them, de-activating the fight/flight response that is keeping you in an anxious state.
Through solution focused therapy we explore and nurture what is holding you back and keeping you in a fearful state, helping you to gaining new perspectives on life, meaning you can start to engage and enjoy life again.
It is imperative that you feel safe and comfortable, and we work together to help you to create new senses of safety and grounding within yourself, supporting you through the ups and downs that life brings. Learning relaxation and breathing techniques can help you to take control of your responses to anxiety inducing situations.
The following statistics are how many people in 2022 were recorded to be struggling with anxiety disorders according to ‘Mind’, mental health charity UK:
Mixed anxiety and depression: 8 in 100 people
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): 6 in 100 people
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 4 in 100 people
Depression: 3 in 100 people
Phobias: 2 in 100 people
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): 1 in 100 people
Panic disorder: fewer than 1 in 100 people.
(Statistics from the 'MIND UK website).
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